Chapter 30: This System Isn't Exactly Proper

Lucas had gone to great lengths to assemble the guests at today’s table. Many were people he had to "beg" to attend, individuals far beyond his usual social standing. He had orchestrated this elaborate performance to send a clear message to Ronan: "I, Lucas, have abundant connections and resources in Provence; you can rest assured in partnering with me."

By seating Ronan right beside him at a gathering with so many heavyweights, Lucas intended to convey a second message: while these guests were indeed distinguished, Ronan was the most precious one of all.

Seeing Ronan appear somewhat restrained, Lucas knew his goal had been met. Ronan had seen exactly what he was meant to see, but Lucas’s preparations for the evening went further than that. To get Ronan to agree, he had pulled out all the stops.

"Theo, open that bottle Ronan brought. Let everyone have a taste," Lucas said, waving a hand at Theo.

"Right away." Theo obeyed promptly. As a seasoned drinker, he had been eyeing that bottle of *baijiu* for quite some time. What could it possibly taste like?

Ronan tried to intervene: "This bottle is 52 percent alcohol. Everyone has already had so much wine... perhaps we shouldn't open it. Let’s save it for another time."

Lucas and Theo, two seasoned alcoholics, had already polished off two bottles of wine before the main course even arrived, and Ronan had lost count of how many they had consumed since. Most Provençal wines sat between 8 and 12 percent alcohol—they were in a completely different league than Chinese grain spirits. Ronan’s father, a dedicated *baijiu* drinker, often quipped, "You call wine booze? And beer is just water! *Baijiu* is the only thing that actually tastes like liquor." Mixing these would definitely lead to trouble.

Ronan meant well, but to Lucas and Theo, his words sounded different. What? Were they questioning their tolerance?

"Open it! We’re going to enjoy ourselves tonight!"

Ronan said no more. It was time to give these Frenchmen a taste of some Chinese-style shock.

Lucas took a swig of the *baijiu* just as he would wine, and his face and neck turned beet-red from the burn. He swallowed hard, struggling to suppress the discomfort in his mouth, then forced a composed expression to look at Ronan. "Have you thought about what I mentioned to you last time?"

Ronan wiped his mouth; the moment had finally come. "I would like to gather more information before making a decision."

Lucas had anticipated this response and looked toward Mrs. Charles’s husband. "Olivier, you explain it."

Olivier stroked his beard and said, "In Marseille and Nice, many high-end restaurants require over 30 kilograms of truffles per month. The chefs there can’t work without them. During the holiday peak around Christmas, they can go through over 10 kilograms in a single week. Those tourists come to Provence specifically to eat truffles, because in Paris or London, they cost 6,000 francs per kilogram, while here in Provence, they only cost 3,500."

"The supply channels for these restaurants are monopolized by a few groups, and you wouldn't believe it—they sell to these high-end restaurants at prices even higher than the market rate! The restaurants pay the premium because they value the consistency of the supply. No matter what time they call, they get the quantity they need. Even if they need 50 kilograms, they can provide it."

Olivier paused and looked at Lucas. "I can find a way to make those high-end restaurants re-evaluate their supply channels, but the prerequisite is a stable supply."

Lucas looked at Ronan with fervor. "Olivier knows dozens of restaurant owners like that."

Did he see the massive market potential now?

Ronan didn't follow their line of questioning and instead asked about what concerned him: "How many truffles do your restaurants need in total each month?"

"About 20 kilograms," Olivier replied instantly.

"Can you buy the truffles I dig up?" Ronan raised an eyebrow. Gentlemen, let’s put the big future business aside and talk about something practical. If Olivier could buy his truffles, he wouldn't need to scramble to find ways to set up shop in other villages.

Olivier laughed awkwardly. "I’ve always been buying from Lucas."

Ronan nodded in understanding. So, Lucas and Olivier were partners. Moreover, it seemed Olivier had a hand in the truffle business scheme as well.

Lucas rubbed his temples, hoping to alleviate the physical discomfort brought on by the *baijiu*. "My harvests are sporadic and unstable. If I can't meet the supply, Olivier will look to you. He has agreed."

This was a "gift" to Ronan. As a truffle hunter, one could not share their "secret garden," but sharing a buyer was a rare gesture indeed.

Ronan turned his gaze to Lucas. "To do this business, we need a massive supply of truffles. Relying on just the two of us won't work. How do you intend to solve that?"

Lucas flashed a confident smile and couldn't help but take another sip of *baijiu*, which instantly made his headache worse. "You don't need to worry about that. We will definitely be able to supply the goods."

"For instance?"

Lucas tilted his head, his eyes already struggling to focus. "Join us, and I’ll tell you."

Ronan was just about to find a way to get Lucas to reveal more information when the man across from him suddenly stood up, his face deathly pale. "Apologies, I need to step away for a moment. Let’s continue this when I return."

Ronan chuckled, knowing the *baijiu* had hit him hard.

...

Lucas had been talking to Ronan the whole time, so Ronan hadn't really had a chance to eat. He wasn't worried about being full; he was worried about not having earned enough "Happiness Points." This table was filled with delicacies from land and sea—he could definitely make a killing here.

Just as he was burying his head in his food, a piece of warm, herb-crusted lamb landed on his plate.

"Try this." Elena smiled, waving her fork, which was still dripping with sauce.

"Thank you." Ronan cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth. "Why are you sitting here?"

Elena gracefully set down her knife and fork. "Lucas is out, and as a member of the family, it is my duty to take care of the guests."

Elena was lying sincerely. With Lucas and Theo both gone, she could finally come over to find Ronan! After observing him closely throughout the evening, Elena found him even more aligned with her aesthetic. Theo and Lucas were clearly already drunk, while Ronan was not only perfectly fine but also eating heartily... he was, without a doubt, the most "manly" one in the room.

"Try this Provençal stew." Elena continued to add food to Ronan's plate.

[Tasting Provençal stew, Happiness Points increased by 4.]

"The smoked duck breast is also good."

[Tasting smoked duck breast, Happiness Points increased by 3.]

"Shall I cut you a piece of King Cake?"

[Tasting King Cake, Happiness Points increased by 3.]

"You must have the lemon tart!"

[Tasting lemon tart, Happiness Points increased by 3.]

Elena's chattering mingled with the system prompts in Ronan's ears. He tried to stop her "feeding" several times, but the food she gave him yielded 1 to 2 more points of Happiness than what he ate on his own.

Upholding the principle of "wasting nothing," Ronan didn't stop her, simply offering words of thanks.

"This system really isn't very serious," he mused silently.